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Half-century of Heartbreak: A special series on cleveland.com

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Lou Boudreau (in car, left), his wife, Della, and Indians owner Bill Veeck led the homecoming parade from Public Square following the Indians' last World Series championship in 1948.
(Plain Dealer Historical Photo)

CLEVELAND, Ohio --What will happen if and when Cleveland's 50-year championship drought ends?

That is the question at the heart of reporter Zack Meisel's week-long series on cleveland.com. Featuring nearly 50 interviews conducted with former and current Indians, Cavaliers and Browns players, coaches, front-office executives and long-time season-ticket holders, the series will examine the ins and outs of Cleveland's 50-year championship drought and what a title would mean for the city.

The Browns were the last of Cleveland's major sports franchises to win a championship in 1964.PD historical photo

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Jean Stephenson sought out the one picture on her phone that illustrated her love for baseball.

She had traveled nearly 2,400 miles to Culver City, Calif., from her home in Mentor, Ohio, to watch her grandson pitch. When Cameron and his team lost, the 10-year-old apologized.

"He said, 'Grandma, I'm so sorry,' " Stephenson said. "'You came all this way and you watched us lose.' "

Stephenson referred Cameron to the picture on her phone, a shot snapped from her seats in the first row behind first base at Progressive Field, with the sun disappearing in the distance. She had captured the photo on the final day of the previous regular season, an affair with nothing at stake.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What if the Browns actually won the Super Bowl? What if any of Cleveland's three major professional sports teams won a championship?

Would the title vanquish 50 years of heartbreak, restlessness and pity? Would those responsible for the landmark occasion be forever revered within city limits?

Would the city be the same?

"It was such a great feeling," Rucker said of the aftermath of that 1980 campaign. "I can't really describe it. I know how rock stars feel. I can only compare it to what it must have been like at that time to be a part of the Jackson Five or be Michael Jackson or something."

Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers program from October 10, 1964 game

Even fifty years ago, Bob Gain had trouble moving around. At that time, though, he had a broken leg, suffered early in the 1964 season. However, as a defensive lineman for the NFL Championship-winning Cleveland Browns, he couldn't nudge a random fan without being recognized and saluted.

For members of that '64 Browns team, recollections of the 27-0 title-game trouncing of the Baltimore Colts remain intact, but memories of the celebration and aftermath of Cleveland's most recent championship have faded. Yet, because of a drought entering its 50th year, those hazy flashbacks remain the only way for the city to clutch onto a time when one of its teams stood above the rest.

"I'm not sure you ever come off of cloud nine," said guard John Wooten.

Back when he was 9 years old, Indians Vice President of Public Affairs Bob DiBiasio's father bought tickets for the 1964 NFL Championship Game, a tilt that pitted the Browns against the Baltimore Colts at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. He brought 15-year-old Dan and 12-year-old Tony to the affair, but deemed little Bobby too young to attend.

LeBron James announced his decision to leave the Cavaliers on July 8, 2010.Plain Dealer File Photo

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Four years ago, former Cavalier Jim Chones ran into Wayne Embry at a bar in Milwaukee. As Embry sipped his cocktail, Chones reflected on a comment someone offered up upon LeBron James' exodus from Cleveland.

"I heard someone say, when we lost LeBron, 'Oh, [the Cavaliers] will be back in four years,' " Chones said.

Embry, a former Cavs general manager, interjected.

"He looks over at me and says, 'Jimmy, you know it takes eight to 10 years,' " Chones said. " 'You're out there talking that B.S. Come on. Tell the truth. It takes time.' "

There seems to be an everlasting shortage of sand in Cleveland's hourglass. A 50-year championship drought has the city fighting an eternal time crunch, one that accelerates each team's rebuilding clock and saddles players, coaches and executives with an uncommonly deep-rooted pressure to produce.

Half-Century of Heartbreak RoundtableZack Meisel, Bill Livingston and Dennis Manoloff discuss how Cleveland has gone 50 years without a championship and project which team will break the hex.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- No professional Cleveland sports team has raised a championship banner in 50 years.

However, 2007 was a banner year of sorts for Cleveland sports.

The Cavaliers reached the NBA Finals, the Indians came within one victory of a trip to the World Series and the Browns won 10 games.

Which team will break Cleveland's championship hex?

At that juncture, the question sparked healthy debate, if only for an instant.

In 2008, the Cavs limped to a 45-37 record and fell short in the second round of the playoffs. The Indians dealt reigning Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia en route to an 80-82 finish. The Browns went 4-12.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What, exactly, would a championship celebration in Cleveland look like? Even closing your eyes and trying to imagine the scene might prove to be a difficult task. So open your eyes and read below, as we paint the picture of a downtown Cleveland festival.

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